Priscilla Woolworth photographed at home by Agnes Baddoo for Keep it Chic

It is no secret that I am focused on creating a more eco-friendly home. So, when my friend (and Style Setter) Agnes Baddoo suggested we cover her friend Priscilla Woolworth, I jumped at the chance. Although born in New York City, Priscilla spent much of her childhood in the south of France. It was there that she developed a deep appreciation for a simple, eco-centric, yet stylish lifestyle. Summers in Maine at her storied family’s retreat, Clearview Farm, (Priscilla is a descendant of one of the founders of F.W.Woolworth of the “five and dime” stores), solidified her commitment to the environment. These days, Priscilla lives in Los Angeles where she runs priscillawoolworth.com, an online general store and monthly almanac she founded that offers eco-friendly and socially responsible products, and advice and information about living a sustainable lifestyle. It’s a truly modern version of the famed Woolworth stores and legacy.

The mother of two daughters with Cassian Elwes, Arielle, 22, and Lucie, 20, Priscilla is an inspiring KiC profile.

Photographed by Agnes Baddoo for Keep it Chic

How did your childhood help form your dedication to the environment? Growing up in the south of France exposed me to such a gorgeous way of living by my French family who really knew how to create a lovely quality of life by making a simple yet beautiful environment at home. We all enjoyed what nature brought during the different seasons, the foods and flowers in particular. Spending my summers in Maine opened up my eyes to the beauty of trees, dragonflies and wildflowers and it was there that I realized how vital it is to protect nature. Living in California made it all come together; the indoor life and the outdoor life. They can be lived in a way that is environmentally responsible. All you need to know is how easy it is to do.

What are 3 things everyone could do easily to help the environment?
1) Buy food packaged in glass jars you can reuse for food storage or other uses, reducing the amount of trash you make and saving money on buying food storage containers. 2) Buy school or office supplies made from recycled paper or materials. 3) Use non-toxic suntan lotion at the beach, which is better for you and also for the water you swim in to cool off. Suntan oils and lotions pollute the water and endanger the sea creatures.

Tell me about composting… Composting rocks! I keep a compost pail, one from my store, by my kitchen sink and fill it up with veggie kitchen scraps. I empty the pail into my Valentina composter. After a few months, it breaks down into nutritious compost material, which I add to my vegetable garden, where I grow the vegetables that I pick, etc. The cycle comes full circle and starts up again. I love that.

Whose style do you admire? Jane Goodall for her kindness towards animals and her simple chic.

Which eco-friendly designers do you like? Stella McCartney for her all around earth friendliness and Liya Kebede for her activism and humanitarian work with her brand LemLem.

Favorite books and movies: Books: Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck; Mountains beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder; Interpreter of the Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, … Movies: My Man Godfrey; Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring; Seraphine; Nowhere in Africa; Whale Rider; The Chorus.

Favorite summer dish: Salad Niçoise in a bowl or stuffed inside a crusty piece of bread like they do in the south of France, called a Pan Bagnat.

A day with your daughters is…Doing a project together that involves us staying home and having a great time, then cooking dinner together, eating it by candlelight in the kitchen, sharing stories and laughing the night away.

A perfect day alone is…Not being in a hurry and staying in my pajamas until mid-morning, having breakfast and pottering around the garden, going for a swim, lunch out somewhere yummy and beautiful, taking photos while I’m out and about, catching up on my New Yorkers, The Week and English Elle Decoration back at home while drinking a cup of tea…

Keeps me sane…My cameras because I love shooting images every day and then sharing all my news in my monthly Almanac blog.

Please be courteous. All comments are moderated.

Bravo Preston,
What a wonderful profile so inspiring. I think Pricella’s
Devotion to the enviornment makes her even more beautiful and stylish.
XoJ

Jamie TurquieAugust 12th, 2012 10:07 PM

Really an amazing article.. I completely believe that happiness starts from home. I Believe keep the clean and human friendly environment around your house it really helps to stay a healthy life..http://www.shopkkandco.com/

PreetiAugust 13th, 2012 2:03 AM

Great post–I agree with everything she says–hope you noticed that in our post of mayonnaise, we begged Hellman’s to bring back the glass bottles–not only are they good for the environment, it is better for you to use food not stored in plastic. polyvinylchloride is poisonous.
Also love the life of the South of France and Maine where we have a beautiful, as eco-friendly as possible–have a house on top of a mountain–deep in woods filled with butterflies, dragonflies, and trees, just the way she likes it.

More

After 20 years casting models for Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and fashion shows, I wanted to spend more time with my daughters. KiC is my way to share my thoughts on fashion and style. I believe style should permeate every aspect of our lives — from home, to family, to where we go, and naturally, what we wear — especially when we're just running around. — Preston Davis